Vietnamese Boat People in the Promised Land

Memories of Holocaust refugees, but with a different ending.

Since 1948, Israel has provided a home for millions of Jewish refugees from around the world – Morocco, Iraq, the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia.

What is not so well-known, however, is that Israel has also taken in and sheltered persecuted non-Jews seeking asylum from war-torn countries in the Balkans and most recently, Southern Sudan. A fascinating but little-known story is that of the “Vietnamese Boat People.”

In the late 1970s, after decades of civil war, the North Vietnamese totalitarian communists defeated the South Vietnam regime. In the aftermath of this Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon, hundreds of thousands became refugees. An estimated one million people were imprisoned without formal charges or trials. The new communist government sent masses to “re-education camps” which – rife with abuse, torture and executions – is where 165,000 people died.

Meanwhile, 145,000 South Vietnamese were brought to the United States. For the rest – hoping to escape Communist persecution and torture – there was no choice but to perilously attempt escape by sea.

The sea raged with ferocious waves and Thai pirates.

The risks were huge. The refugees had creaky, wooden boats, overloaded with human cargo. There was the constant surveillance of Communist patrol boats. The sea raged with ferocious waves and crawled with savage Thai pirates.

Despite the risks, hundreds of thousands fled. Many had no experience on the rough seas and were blown off course. Many suffered at the hands of pirates who robbed, raped and killed the passengers. Others tragically drowned in storms, by dehydration and disease, or other ocean mishaps.

One refugee, Kiem Vu, described his experience:

The people know there is no going back. Either they will make it, or die somewhere in the immense and unforgiving sea... There is no sight of land, nothing except the rumbling sky, the quivering winds, and the trembling heartbeats; the people are crying for help. Soon, they run out of food, raw fish have become their main source of nourishment, but even that is rare... Even their clothes are wet, and they have had to sleep through the coldest nights. Their spirits and strength are greatly diminished. Why is freedom so hard to find? If not in the vast ocean, then where is it?

For one fragile fishing boat crammed with 66 refugees, a miracle was about to occur. Adrift in the South China Sea for nearly a week, they were lost. Their little boat was leaking and waterlogged. They were without food and water, and their clothes had been shredded by the high winds. Ship after ship – from East Germany, Norway, Japan and Panama – passed them by, ignoring their desperate SOS signals, in violation of the most basic code of the sea.

Miracle Rescue

Then on June 10, 1977, an Israeli freighter ship called the Yuvali, en route to Taiwan, sighted the nearly naked passengers. Captain Meir Tadmor telegraphed Haifa for permission to take them aboard, even though his ship carried only enough life rafts and jackets for his 30-member crew. Still, he had no choice but to pick up the refugees, he said, because "they are poor in body and morale."

Captain Tadmor plucked the refugees from their rickety boat 400 kilometers south of Saigon. The refugees – doctors, professors, bankers, nurses, fishermen, and 16 children under age ten – hadn't had anything to eat or drink for days.

Yet the Yuvali found no port willing to accept its surplus “cargo.” Captain Tadmor made an unscheduled stop in Hong Kong to get the refugees desperately-needed medical attention; authorities in the British crown colony refused to allow them ashore on the grounds that the Yuvali was not scheduled to call at Hong Kong. Equally inhospitable were authorities in Taiwan: they put a police cordon around the ship to prevent anyone from getting off. The refugees received a similarly cold reception at Yokohama, Japan.

The rebuff awakened some poignant memories in Israel. Ships carrying Jewish refugees from the Nazi Holocaust sought in vain to enter ports in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Caribbean. They wandered the seven seas looking for a haven and were summarily turned away. Some, like the SS Struma, were abandoned without food, water and fuel – then torpedoed and sunk by a Soviet submarine, killing 768 men, women and children.

And so, Menachem Begin’s first act as Israel's new prime minister was to offer asylum and resettlement to the 66 Vietnamese. Only then did Taiwan allow the group to disembark, where they were whisked to Sung Shan Airport for a flight to Israel.

As Begin explained to then-U.S. President Carter:

"We never have forgotten the boat with 900 Jews [the St. Louis], having left Germany in the last weeks before the Second World War... traveling from harbor to harbor, from country to country, crying out for refuge. They were refused... Therefore it was natural… to give those people a haven in the land of Israel."

The government of Israel offered a ceremonious welcome, with Minister of Absorption David Levy uttering some words of rebuke to the rest of the world: "Let them do as we have. May they lend a hand to save women and children who are in the heart of the sea without a homeland, and lead them to safe shores."

Where are they today?

Those rescued on the Yuvali became the first of three groups of Vietnamese refugees to be resettled in Israel. From 1977-79, Israel welcomed over 300 Vietnamese refugees.

Many of the Vietnamese refugees eventually left Israel, seeking life in more familiar surroundings. They left not out of disappointment and frustration, but as grateful emigrants.

Others have remained, forming the core today of a thriving Vietnamese community in Israel. Kien Wong lives in Haifa, has a growing multi-generational family, and owns Yan Yan, a popular Chinese restaurant. (see film clip below)

Kien Wong owns a popular Chinese restaurant in Haifa.

Another of the refugees, Hanmoi Nguyen, who has raised five Hebrew-speaking daughters in Israel, is featured in the documentary film, The Journey of Vaan Nguyen. Nguyen had been the son of a wealthy landowner in Vietnam and returned to his native village to reclaim his ancestral property and settle scores with the Communist functionary who kicked him out at gunpoint. In an eerie parallel to the Holocaust survivors who returned to their homelands to reclaim their old homes, Nguyen is met with suspicion and hostility at his old village.

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of this unique rescue story. The Talmud says that saving one life is like saving a whole world. In this case, in those stormy seas south of Saigon, 66 precious souls were given a new lease on life.

I am extremely amazed that I found this photo of the Israeli Prime Minister touching my face all those years ago. The other person smiling and just next to Begin was my dad who acted as the interpreter.

josef bartol,
December 7, 2013 1:40 AM

boat rescue - 1977

i was so happy to see your comment! i am jewish, from los angeles, I would be very happy if you want to communicate with me. my name is josef bartol my email is 35broadway@gmail.com

Anonymous,
March 27, 2014 3:27 PM

I saw your comments and realized that I used to live with you and your dad in Afula, Israel in 1977. Heard you and your dad are in Australia. Please in touch. My email address is jkyyuen@netscape.net

(15)
TVu,
June 13, 2013 7:35 PM

Thank you

I was not from that refugee boat, but nonetheless, I was one among those that left Vietnam on a boat 37 years ago and found freedom.

We -- the freedom seekers -- are all scattered around the world. Some would become successful, some not. Some will catch on, some won't. But we are all grateful of your generosity and hospitality, allowing us the opportunity to thrive in the new environment.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Captain and the everyone in the freighter ship Yuvali.

(14)
Anonymous,
October 17, 2012 11:48 PM

question

I know how many were allowed to stay in Australia, but how many refugees were sent back to Vietnam? Thankyou.

(13)
Frane Fingust,
June 14, 2012 4:44 AM

June10.1977 the day I will never forget . 35 years ago I was on Israeli Cargo Ship YUVALI , in capacity of Chief Engineer with Capt. Meir Tadmor , when we collected 66 Vietnamese refugees from an old - small fishing boat . I was one to take care of their needs , and any one who was on that boat should remember me . I wish that anyone of them contact me , just to say HELLLLO , My e-mail address is attached
Best regards from Frane Fingust

Ounkham D. Mingboupha,
September 18, 2012 1:28 AM

God bless you

I just hear this story about a week ago when I watch the video on YouTube . I just want to say Thank you and your crew for helping them vietnamese people. God bless you and your crews. God bless Israel.

Anonymous,
May 6, 2014 4:48 PM

I am Vietnamese and I want to thank you for what you did for my people. May Hashem bless you and your family, and may Hashem bless the Jewish people and Israel. The Jewish people are moral people.

(12)
Shoshana,
November 29, 2011 9:01 PM

southern Sudan

The story about the 300 Vietnamese that were taken into Israel is truely beautiful and I had never heard it before. I am really proud that Israel did this wonderful act.
BUT when you mention the Sudans it is a different story altogether.
FOUR THOUSAND of these Moslems are infiltrating every month. If this keeps up Israel will soon be one-third Moslem. These people are for the most part a low-class criminal element, deseased, uneducated , roudy and dangerous. In the areas that they live Jews are afraid to walk down the streets. Just because of the Holocaust memories we should not be required to destroy our lives here in Israel. Also for those who think they are "refugees" , they are not. The official international definition of a refugee is one who flees from his country to a second one. If he flees to a third he is not considered a refugee( these Africans are infiltrating from Egypt). But whatever you want to call them, the situation is unbearable already.
But that is not all. The country is filled with Ethiopian Christians who are doing missionary work amoung the Jewish Ethiopians. There was a whole article about heartbroken Ethiopian parents who said that for 2000 years they stayed Jewish in Ethiopia to come here for this.
And what about the increaslng incidents of swastickers painted on our synogoges right here in Israel and how many have been burned? It's almost always Russians and not the Russian Jew, but the same anti-Semites who are coming over here for a free handout.
The situation has gotton so bad that there are people who do not think that Israel should even be called a Jewish state anymore.

(11)
Anonymous,
November 27, 2011 4:45 AM

Conflict

The general tone of this story is beautiful but I do find it very hard to reconcile our history and the moden reality. Australia alone took 100000 vietnamese refugees. Surely with our history we could do more than accomodate the numbers we did. Although the story is nice, the reality is that we should be ' a light unto the nations' and demonstrate that by doing more. I dont mean this in a criticism. I personally find it hard to reconcile our history with the fact that we took in 70 vietnamese refugees out of an estimated umber of 1.5million

Kosher Food Chemist,
December 1, 2011 1:19 PM

Re: Conflict

If you will sadly look back to 1922 you will see how Ben Gurion turned ships back filled with what he described as 'religious Jews.' He didn't want "those" types in "his" country. Try looking at the positive side of Project Solomon & Moses where over 100,000 Ethiopians those that have a tie with Israel & Judaism have stayed & benefited themselves & Israel. The U.S. invited itself into the VietNam conflict so they should have taken in a lot more people. How much would you like the small State of Israel to do considering its limited economics and mongrels at its heels day & night? How many desperate Jewish people do you have sitting at your Friday nite & Saturday Shabbat table? There are so many Jewish people out there that don't eat all week and look desperately for someone to invite them for Shabbat so they can get their weekly sustenance. Israel has been the first country to offer assistance without prejudice even to those countries that despise her. Remember it was the Jewish people that taught the world "to turn the other cheek" and we are a light unto the nations I noticed you did not mention the UK, Greece, France, Italy, Spain or any other EU country; why is that? Shabbat Shalom & Shalom Al Yisrael

Shoshana,
December 1, 2011 4:37 PM

Australia

Australia is a little bigger than Israel, and a little bit richer, my dear Anonymous, Nov.27 at 4:45 AM (Wow! I guess the conflict really didn't give you much sleep).

(10)
Linda Rivera,
November 21, 2011 10:38 PM

Israel, Light to the World, Thank you!

So good to read of Israel's kind act to a desperate people! If only this kindness had been shown by the nations to Jews trying to escape the Holocaust.

(9)
Eric,
November 21, 2011 7:18 PM

Wait a minute...

An inspiring article. However, as far as my country Norway goes, I feel the author was unfair. Between 1975-82, up to 10,000 vietnamese were granted entry to Norway as refugees. (today, they and their families number 20,000 ) Some ships may indeed have sailed past those desperate people, for whatever (wrong) reason. Yet thousands were picked up and cared for by our merchant fleet. They seem to be thriving today- and even getting used to the colder weather! Norwegians have a long and well-known tradition of providing humanitarian aid and comfort to the less fortunate. I'm sure much of this attitude comes from the strong influence the Bible had on our society for hundreds of years. Yet we as a nation have also had our "misses". Our small nation (soon 5 million) has its faults, but concerning the Vietnamese refugees, we've done ok . May GOD provide Israel with abundant rain and peace.

(8)
Menashe Kaltmann,
November 21, 2011 11:56 AM

I met one of these Vietnamese refugees here in Melbourne Australia

Great story!
Interestingly about ~15 years ago my good wife and I and a few of our great kids went shopping in to the Central Business District (Downtown) here in Melbourne,
Our kids were having loads of fun; making a lot of noise as kids do(!) an a Asian man came up to me.
I thought he was going to tell me off about the noise but I was really surprised.
He started talking to me in nearly perfect Ivrit/Hebrew. He explained that he had lived in Israel one of these Vietnamese refugees and had worked in Tel Aviv in a restaurant. He knew all about kosher food and was proud that his restaurant had a 'hechsher' kosher certification!
It was a pleasure meeting him.
PS I also know of one Vietnamese refugee here in Australia that used to work for a Jewish employer and speak some Yiddish. He adopted proudly a Jewish name they used to call him "Chaim"!

(7)
sharyn spitzer,
November 21, 2011 10:09 AM

Wonderful people have joined our family...because wse believe in offering refuge to the needy.

Just vist Hadassah Hospital and you will see how these immigrants and all the others who have chosen to be part of the family in Israel are treated with equanimity and care par excellence. Vietnamese, Arab, Jew...all are qual in the eyes of our staff. These people deserve the opportunity for a new life in the sand dune and in the desert in our land that gleams. I still carry letters from loved ones who perished in Europe because no one cared enough to open their home too them. I still light a candle for them and cry for their suffering when we were lucky to be warm in our own beds with hot food and clean clothes.

(6)
Sara,
November 21, 2011 3:57 AM

This is a really good story. It really enlighten me. This is why the Jewish people continue to be blessed.

(5)
Shari,
November 20, 2011 10:26 PM

Thanks for the eye-opener

I never heard this story before, but it's certainly not hard for me to believe. It's sad that people will allow others to suffer and die, because they don't want to take responsibility for them. Even worse is when prejudice plays a role and the reasons for denying safe haven are because you don't want to "degrade" your society by bringing in immigrants that appear to be "low class". It's really interesting to note that these same "low class" immigrants are often the ones that become the best educated, and most successful people in society. They are also the ones that instill in their children the best values. What message does a society that denies life and hope to people that are helpless, give their children? America is a country made up of people who's ancestors at some point sought refuge from some type of tyranny or persecution. And yet even America has closed it's doors to refugees looking for a safe haven, sending Jews back to Germany to perish during the holocaust, and Cubans back to Castro. Do we ever have the right to deny others the right to survive? Do we have the gall to deny others what G-d mercifully granted us? Where would we be if our ancestors hadn't found a safe haven? And who knows what the future holds? As Jews, we believe in "midah kineged midah", "a deed that mirrors another deed". Who knows if one day those that refused life to others, won't one day find themselves in the same boat. Kudos to Israel for remembering to be grateful for the opportunity to live free and valuing life, by providing the same opportunities to others. It's too bad most of the world doesn't know about this. It's a more accurate picture of what Israel represents than the one most journalists (and certainly most Arabs) would portray to the world at large. Thanks for the inspiring and eye-opening article.

(4)
ira berkowitz,
November 20, 2011 3:39 PM

the apology that never came

the "peace activists" in the west who fdorced america to leave souteast asia enabled the communist victory. the "peace activists" doomed millions. today, the spawn of the "peace activists" of the 1960s have set the stage for a repeat of their parents' southeast asia fiasco. another river of blood brought to the world by, "peace activists". "when will they ever learn? when will they EVER learn?

Alan S.,
November 21, 2011 12:55 AM

I wonder how this comment relates to this article? Also, what "apology" is Mr. Berkowitz looking for? Is it an apology from the nations listed that did not take in the WWII Jewish refugees or the Vietnamese refugees? How do "peace activists" tie in with the wonderful thing that Israel did by taking in the Vietnamese refugees?

(3)
Anonymous,
November 20, 2011 12:03 PM

A MOTH 2 A FLAME

This was a heart-warming article. Truly, its not just the learning, not just the kindness, but the very Wisdom that draws the people of this planet to the people and [sometimes] to the nation of Israel. Please, please support your rabbis, and board members in prayer-please uplift the students, and remember the elderly, and Stay Srong.

(2)
Mark Feffer,
November 20, 2011 11:56 AM

I met them

The year I was in a Jerusalem absorbtion center after making aliyah I took it upon myself to go south to the Vietnamese boat people trailer camp to photograph them for the Jerusalem Post. I brought a large Israeli flag for them to be photographed with. That photo is still in the J. Post archives. Finer people, those 66 Vietnamese, are hard to find. Long live Israel. May the Vietnamese prosper. The rescue was a Kiddush Hashem.

(1)
Emeq ben Yosef,
November 20, 2011 11:52 AM

Truth for the sake of truth

People of all nations need help at some time or another. Arrogance, selfish ideals and just plain ignorance often rules. Our understanding of TORAH always brings truth.
Even we as Jews often need to be reminded of our folly. During and after "Nam", I worked with a man who dedicated his final military years of helping those very same people relocate to America, just to "get out of communistic rule." I met him again in the 1980's when we one again worked together. It was great to see his positive recall of all that he did to help his fellow man. He did it out of love for a people he had seen as oppressed oft times tortured and murdered, not any other reason. When I last saw him he was relating days when he was visited by some of those he helped, most times their simple gift of a great meal said everything. Truth simply for truth is many times reward enough. My friend is a Black man, I knew it must have gone through his mind how his ancestors had been treated not that many decades before. Oh, and he is not Jewish. Shalom

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...